Enhancing the value and impact of research into vocational education and training: an Ako Aotearoa view

Abstract

Vocational educators and trainers often bemoan the lack of research undertaken in their field and that policy and practice often lack a sound evidential base in New Zealand. However, Ako Aotearoa's National Register of Research and Implementation projects conducted on vocational education and training / workplace learning between 2006 and 2008 identifies around 120 separate pieces of work. One has to ask, therefore, why this very considerable effort has had so little apparent impact on practice. In this paper we explore why this might be the case.

Using Stokes' (1997) concept of Pasteur's Quadrant, we assessed a sample of 40 workplace learning research outputs on two dimensions: methodological integrity (as the key driver for extending fundamental understanding) and potential impact. We found that the majority of research (70%) was classified on the lower end of the range on both of these dimensions. Of the research classified more highly, most (25% of the total surveyed) scored well on both scales and was thus plotted in Pasteur's Quadrant.

It is our view, that if we are to enhance the overall value and impact of research on educational practice, Ako Aotearoa needs to foster improved methodological integrity of current work and encourage researchers to consider more comprehensively the applications for use.

Authors: Peter Coolbear, Kirsty Weir and Warren Sellers, Ako Aotearoa, the National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence.

Paper: Enhancing the value and impact of research into vocational education and training: an Ako Aotearoa view (pdf. 257KB)

Presentation: Enhancing the value and impact of research into vocational education and training: an Ako Aotearoa view (pdf. 348KB)